Top tips for feel-good sustainable travel in Britain

Britain is a place where visitors can take time to feel at one with nature and improve wellness, travel the scenic eco-friendly routes, eat in delicious plant-based restaurants and take the chance to give something back. For those longing for the feel-good travel factor, here’s how to find it.

Be with nature

Want to spend more time outdoors? Then seize the opportunity to bask in nature and step out of everyday stresses - a proven way to get a dose of wellness. Britain’s 15 National Parks and 46 official Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty are the ideal destination for a nature-centric break or digital detox. Perfect for hiking or simply taking a relaxing stroll, visitors can spend their time wandering through parks, exploring scenic coastlines or discovering calming forests.

One way to lose track of time in the British countryside is to relish the vast landscapes, quaint villages and intermittent internet connection on one of our many walking trails. As well as northern England’s well-known Lake District and Peak District National Park hikes, the south also boasts some unmissable natural beauty. Ranking at number 37 in Lonely Planet’s list of 500 unmissable UK experiences, the South West Coast Path is a walking trail that roams through some of Britain’s most beautiful coastal areas. Along the way visitors can get to know the best of Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and Dorset, a treat for hikers and beach-lovers alike and a textbook environmentally-friendly adventure!

For a deep sense of wellbeing during a trip to Britain, step into the seductive world of forest bathing. An idea originating from Japan, forest bathing focuses on mindful walks and relaxation sessions in the heart of calm forest settings, of which Britain has plenty! For a revitalising dose of nature therapy, visitors can explore Britain’s tranquil woodlands, such as Savernake Forest in Wiltshire, Ashridge Estate in Hertfordshire or Fingle Woods in Devon.

Be eco-focused

For those wanting to travel in a more sustainable way, substituting planes for trains when travelling internally around the UK will not only reduce carbon footprints, but also gives visitors the chance to see more beautiful British scenery. One great example is the Caledonian Sleeper train, an overnight journey taking passengers from London to Scotland in style. The trains call at destinations including Glasgow, Inverness, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Fort William, and come complete with comfortable bunk cabins and delicious dining options in the Club Car, so visitors can wake up refreshed, guilt-free and ready to explore a new part of Scotland.

Be plant-based

Trying a more vegan and vegetarian diet will feature on countless New Year’s resolution lists, so why not try some of the most mouth-watering and innovative plant-based options whilst getting a taste for the UK? Swing by one of the capital’s most popular vegetarian restaurants, Mildreds, a vegetarian Soho institution established in 1988 that now boasts three additional branches in London. Another stylish vegan must-try is W.A.V.E., or We are Vegan Everything in London’s trendy Hackney area. Sit-back and relax in the gloriously bohemian restaurant and tuck into diary-free freak-shakes, pancakes or fresh salad bowls.